"Antibiotics are losing their effectiveness at a rate that is both alarming and irreversible - similar to global warming," Davies declares.

She and the country's Health Protection Agency have appealed to the public to stop taking antibiotics for mild infections. Adding urgency, they noted that there are very few new antibiotics in development

Some people believe a glass of whisky soothes a sore throat.

"I urge patients and prescribers to think about the drugs they are requesting and dispensing," Davies says. "Bacteria are adapting and finding ways to survive the effects of antibiotics, ultimately becoming resistant so they no longer work."

And if you are taking antibiotics, remember to finish the prescribed dose, because not doing so fosters resistance, she points out.

Feel a sore throat coming on? Try tea and honey. That's my advice, not hers. A Scottish friend of mine swears whisky does the trick.Do you have an antibiotic-free cure all? Tell us about it below.